CARSONIA
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Sunday, July 08, 2012

Going to HAITI on Wednesday, July 11

Ok, I'm headed to HAITI this Wednesday if I can ever get it all done. First, all day advising and symphony rehearsal Monday night. Tuesday features work at St. Paul's and the New Orleans Summer Chorus presents a concert: "Of Cows, Cats, and Roses". Then, I can concentrate on Haiti. I'm a bit nervous about Malaria issues there, but I have dutifully stocked up on OFF clip-ons and a bazillion refills. Here is some basic info about my trip below from a press release...Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers: our team of counselors, the staff, and most of all the precious young people with whom we will be working. Here is a link to my previous blog post about the trip. It features some more info, photos, and a YouTube video about the Red Thread Promise.http://carsonia.blogspot.com/2012/05/mission-trip-to-haiti-this-july.html

St. Paul's Music Director Goes to Haiti

Dr. Caroline Carson (pictured at left), Director ofMusic at St. Paul’s Episcopal and Director of
Choral Studies at The University of New Orleans, has the chance of a lifetime
this July 2012. While she has traveled internationally and taught overseas in
academic situations, Caroline jumped at the opportunity to go to and make a
difference in the lives of others in a non-tourist location: Port-au-Prince,
Haiti with the Red Thread Promise (www.redthreadpromise.org ). She
applied and was accepted.

Why
Haiti? Moving to New Orleans after Katrina and seeing the city re-grow over the
past six years has helped her witness what a determined community can do with
each others’ help. Working at St. Paul’s Episcopal for the past four years and
volunteering with The Homecoming Center’s seniors program has shown her many
opportunities for service and introduced her to the movers and shakers of
service in New Orleans. After Caroline learned about the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, she
heard about The Red Thread Promise's work there. She wanted to do something….so
she and the members of Inconspicuous 8,
a local professional women’s choir, gave a benefit concert for the organization
and its work. Since that time, she has kept a close eye on happenings in Haiti
and approached Kathy Korge Albergate (President of The Red Thread Promise) and
her husband, Rev. Dr. Scott Albergate (rector of St. Paul’s) about applying for
the trip this July. Caroline is the second person from St. Paul’s to go to
Haiti with the organization. The first was Mr. John Joseph, Sexton of St.
Paul’s, in January 2011. In talking to Caroline about the trip, she says: “I’m
absolutely thrilled to go and I know our team will have a blast with the kids.
I believe it’s equally important to put your time where your mouth is when you say you want to make a
difference…and I believe volunteering is something we all need to try and find
time for.”

Camp Jake is an
annual summer camp designed to meet the special needs of handicapped children
from the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The
team consists of 16 counselors and one photographer who will be working with 44
campers—who are blind, deaf or non-ambulatory - for a week on the Haitian
coast. The children are from St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children. The
camp removes physical and emotional barriers, giving participating children the
chance to engage in creative arts, as well as physical and social activities
under the supervision of a team of volunteer counselors, artists, musicians,
mentors and healthcare professionals. Photo at left of Diana in her new all terrain
wheelchair donated by Episcopal Church Women across the US.

"The concept
for Camp Jake was inspired by my 13‐year‐old nephew, Jacob Richard, who suffers
from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degenerative terminal illness,” said Tom
Landry II, director of Camp Jake and a member of The Red Thread board. “Our
camp will bring Jacob's selfless, energetic spirit to the orphaned children of
St. Vincent's. We believe every child deserves the most life has to offer,
regardless of disability, class, race or circumstance. Camp Jake will assure
that physical limitations are left behind and replaced with endless
opportunities for emotional and physical development in a fun-filled
atmosphere."

(left to right) Dieumene, Danika and JoJo

ABOUT
THE RED THREAD PROMISE

The Red Thread Promise (TRTP) is a not‐for‐profit
organization whose mission is to provide hope and healing for needy and
orphaned children—children who have no one to advocate for them and cannot
advocate for themselves. Our program exists to improve the quality of life for
these children. We provide them with the treatment they need so that they can
each lead a life with dignity, health and hope. Find us online at
www.redthreadpromise.org. Follow us on Facebook: The Red Thread Promise or on
Twitter: @trtpromise

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About Me

Caroline Carson: Lover of life, forever discerning, cultivator of new adventures, conductor, punster, space geek, SpaceTweep, dreamer, admirer of all things mystical, Episcopalian, aunt, spinach & broccoli salad fan, former trainer of racehorses, amateur photographer, avid Facebooker, occasional tweet binger, fan of the Universe and all its glory. I work at The University of New Orleans, St. Paul's Episcopal, and The New Orleans Civic Symphony. I am eternally in awe and admiration of those around me. I absolutely love living in New Orleans and it was the best move I've ever made! It is a noble, crazy, cultured, and exciting city. It has been broken many times and yet it stands the test of time with grace. I hope to do that too! Twitter - @Conductor222